But many in the community say a one percent sales tax is a small price to pay.

Christie Clark is a Riverdale resident and a mother of two – one heading to college, the other still in high school.

“My daughter was going to Georgia State to go to a law camp so I wanted her to ride transit because you get off at Georgia State. It’s right there and it’s so convenient. Well I didn't have the option to do that. It’s just really stifling us as a community.”

Clark said if MARTA is saying a full percent increase or nothing, then she fully supports the full percent increase.

“We’re missing jobs, we’re missing developments, our housing sucks. You can look at our community and see that we need something to bring growth,” said Clark.

The commission Tuesday voted for a plan calling for a half percent increase - enough for bus service only. However, MARTA said it’s either pay the same one percent amount as its other member jurisdictions - the city of Atlanta, and Fulton and DeKalb Counties - or get no service at all.

Additionally, MARTA reiterated its promise to only spend Clayton's sales tax revenue on transit within the county. Charles Eguavoen, a senior at Clayton State University, said the transit agency's promise makes the case even stronger.

“It’s not like the money is being taken from Clayton County and used to support services in Fulton County or whatever. The money stays in the county,” said Equavoen.

“I think they’re so out of touch with the mainstream. I’ve seen without the bus service how much people have suffered and how they’ve lost jobs and can’t get around. If there’s no other way, and this is the way to do it, I wish they would do it,” said Haque.

The commission meets Saturday to reconsider, with Sunday as the final deadline.